OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Picture of AS Cantor with Check

Assistant Secretary Cantor Announces $7 Million in Grants for Palau

06/27/2024

The United States and Palau held bilateral economic consultations in Palau this week where officials discussed financial and economic goals under the newly approved 2023 Compact Review Agreement (CRA). In a meeting with the Palau President, Assistant Secretary Cantor announced $6,000,000 in Compact of Free Association (Compact) Infrastructure Maintenance grants for Fiscal Years 2022, 2023, and 2024, including $1,098,699 in Technical Assistance Program (TAP) funding provided through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), affirming the strong support that the United States has for the Republic of Palau.

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Group photo Gov Guam, Gov CNMI with US federal partners

Assistant Secretary Cantor Announces $11 Million in Grants for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

06/05/2024

“This forum is an important opportunity to engage with Micronesian leaders on the most current and pressing topics of concern to the region,” said Assistant Secretary Cantor. “At the invitation of MIF-host Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero, I was pleased to meet with other island leaders and federal and multilateral partners in person where I also announced grant awards that will help address needs related to capital improvements, data development, public safety, training, and local capacity building.”

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Technical Assistance Program funding for Close Up Foundation supports high school students

Assistant Secretary Cantor Highlights Funding to Support Civic Education Opportunities for Students in U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States

05/23/2024

Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor today met with high school students from the 2024 Insular Area Close Up Program, a program funded by the Office of Insular Affairs that provides meaningful civic education opportunities for students from the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States.

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Ceremonies in American Samoa

Assistant Secretary Cantor Participates in 124th Flag Day Ceremonies in American Samoa, Announces $2.5 million in financial assistance for the territory

04/19/2024

During her visit, Assistant Secretary Cantor announced $2.5 million in fiscal year 2024 Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funds from the Office of Insular Affairs. TAP grant awards totaling $1,488,400 will be awarded to the territorial government and $1,007,161 in TAP funding is distributed to semi-autonomous agencies, an educational institution, non-profit organizations, and the Department’s Bureau of Reclamation for a variety of projects to support American Samoa.

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Office of Insular Affairs Announces Grant Assistance to Support Development of New Hospital Project in Chuuk State, FSM

03/26/2024

An investment of $8,486,000 in Compact of Free Association grant assistance is provided in support of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia’s efforts toward designing, developing and engineering a new hospital in Chuuk State and will replace hospital infrastructure that was built prior to 1986 or the beginning of the Compact of Free Association relationship.

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Interior Department Applauds Renewed Economic Assistance for Compacts of Free Association

03/11/2024

On Saturday, March 9, 2024, President Biden signed into law, H.R. 4366, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,” which included the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024. The Department of the Interior today celebrated the finalization of amendments to the Compacts of Free Association, which would provide 20 years of new economic assistance. The $6.5 billion of assistance is critical for economic stability and quality of life for the people of the freely associated states (FAS): the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.

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